The owner, the partner of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer, suffered minor injuries after the bomb exploded beneath the front passenger seat. Her boyfriend's life was spared because he was not due to go into work at a local police station that morning.

Last month the Real IRA left several improvised bombs outside the homes of relatives of a PSNI officer in Derry.

Security sources in Northern Ireland have said dissident groups intend to stage more attacks as unionist and nationalist parties move closer to a deal on policing and justice powers.

They have said the Real IRA, Continuity IRA and Oghlaigh na hEireann believe a deteriorating security situation on the streets will prompt backbenchers in the Democratic Unionist party to delay the Northern Ireland assembly taking over powers.